9/11 Death Claims Top 10,000 for First Time: Cancer, Payouts & How to File
Death claims tied to 9/11 illnesses have passed 10,000 for the first time, the compensation fund reports, with cancer behind 93% of approved death awards.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ron Cogswell, CC BY 2.0
NEW YORK, November 15, 2026 — Death claims linked to illnesses from the September 11, 2001, attacks have passed 10,000 for the first time, the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund said, with 10,029 claims filed on behalf of people who died from 9/11-related conditions as of October 31, 2026.
The milestone, recorded in the fund's October monthly report, shows the toll is still rising 25 years on. Cancer featured in 93 percent of approved death awards. By November, it had approved 6,397 death awards, 5,997 of them involving cancer.
Key Takeaways
- 10,029 deceased claims filed as of October 31, 2026 — the first time above 10,000, up from 610 at the end of 2015.
- 6,397 death awards approved, with cancer involved in 5,997 of them, or 93 percent of deceased award decisions.
- The fund has awarded $18.95 billion in total since 2011, in 78,696 initial determinations.
- Claims remain open until October 1, 2090, and the fund still receives about 750 new claims a month.
How Many 9/11 Death Claims Has the Victim Compensation Fund Received
The fund's October report puts cumulative deceased claims at 10,029, after 123 new deceased claims were filed in October, alongside 934 personal injury claims. So far in 2026, the fund has received 1,063 deceased claims and 7,377 personal injury claims, taking total claims since the fund reopened to 114,415.
Registrations now stand at 204,184. The fund says claims submitted before July 2025 are currently receiving award decisions, while claims filed in late 2025 will come under substantive review soon. The gap reflects a lengthy process: attorney Michael Barasch, who represents 9/11 families, said reviews can take more than a year, and estate claims must first receive approval from a surrogate's court.
How Much Has the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Paid in Awards
The fund has now awarded $18.95 billion in total, with $1.91 billion awarded in 2026 alone. It has issued 78,696 initial determinations and 23,550 amended determinations since its 2011 reauthorisation.
Deceased determinations now total 6,388, up from 6,339 at the end of September. More than 6,000 people have now died from 9/11-related illnesses, Special Master Allison Turkel said — more than double the 2,977 killed on September 11 itself. The fund was created in 2001 and reauthorised in 2011 and 2019, when full funding was provided and the deadline was extended to October 1, 2090.
| Measure | Total as of October 31, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Deceased claims filed | 10,029 |
| All claims filed | 114,415 |
| Deceased compensation determinations | 6,388 |
| Total amount awarded | $18.95 billion |
| People registered with the fund | 204,184 |
How to File a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Death Claim
A death claim can only be filed by the personal representative of the deceased person, usually a family member appointed through the courts. The claim must show the person was present at one of the three crash sites — New York City, the Pentagon, or Shanksville, Pennsylvania — during the fund's set exposure periods, and that the death was linked to a 9/11-related condition.
Eligible conditions include cancers and other illnesses tied to exposure to toxic dust and debris from the collapse of the World Trade Center towers, under the Zadroga Health and Compensation Act of 2010. The milestone comes amid other major federal developments, from the nationwide FAA ground stop to the White House scrapping food tariffs, and record deportations for the past fiscal year.
The next monthly report, covering November, is due in December, and claims remain open until October 1, 2090. Full figures are in the fund's October 2026 monthly report.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many 9/11 death claims have been filed with the Victim Compensation Fund?
10,029 deceased claims had been filed as of October 31, 2026 — the first time the total has passed 10,000, up from 610 at the end of 2015, a rise of 1,544 percent.
What percentage of 9/11 death awards involve cancer?
Cancer featured in 93 percent of deceased award decisions: of the 6,397 death awards approved by November, 5,997 involved cancer.
How long does a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claim take?
Reviews can take more than a year. Claims submitted before July 2025 are currently receiving decisions, and estate claims need a surrogate's court's approval first.
Who can file a 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund death claim?
Only the personal representative of the deceased person can file, usually a family member appointed through the courts. The death must be linked to a 9/11-related condition, and claims remain open until October 1, 2090.
